Further £1.47m cost-of-living support available to Harrow residents struggling to make ends meet

Thousands of households are urged to apply for a cost of living support grant before applications close at the end of next month. Residents on low incomes in Harrow could be eligible for the scheme, which was devised to help them pay for energy, water, food, and other essential items.

In June, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) made an additional £1.47m in cost of living support available to Harrow residents facing financial hardship, through the Household Support Fund (HSF). This pot of money is provided to councils to support people on low incomes who are struggling to make ends meet.

Harrow Council has allocated the funds to target those most in need. To be eligible residents must: be a Harrow resident; be liable for home energy costs; in need of support with day to day living expenses; have not been in receipt of HSF in the last 3 months; and comply with any reasonable conditions concerning the payment award.

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As part of this initiative, more than 6,750 households will benefit from Free School Meal vouchers during this year’s school holidays. These vouchers are designed to make sure children have access to nutritious meals even out of term time.

The HSF can also be used to support local voluntary organisations, such as Help Harrow and the Community Hub. These organisations offer quick access to food supplies and provide vital information and advice to support residents with financial difficulties.

'Continue to help those most in need'

When the additional funding was first announced, Portfolio Holder for Performance, Communications and Customer Experience, Cllr Stephen Greek, said: “This is welcome additional funding from the Government which will continue to help those most in need.”

He added: “We are using this funding to provide free school meal vouchers in the school holidays, advice and support through our Conversation Café, and more money to our care leavers as they transition to independence. There will also be emergency support available to those in financial hardship. We encourage anyone struggling to look on our website which has comprehensive information on cost-of-living support or visit Greenhill Library for in-person assistance.”

The council is partnering with Citizens Advice Harrow to deliver financial support by distributing part of the HSF grant to eligible residents in the form of vouchers - which must be spent by September 30. Residents can click here to apply. Those who don't have access to the internet and wish to make a claim can call the council.

People who are entitled are expected to receive their payment within 20 days of making the application. Vouchers are also available for care leavers moving to independent accommodation. Those eligible for this support do not need to apply as they will receive the payments automatically.

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